Particularly peat



Dec. 22,1925. 1,566,496-

. K. MAUS DESICCATING AND COMPRESSING PULPY MATERIAL, PARTICULARLY PEA'I Filed April 27, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 5.

F W F.

Invntor:

Dem 22 1925- a K. MAUS nnsmcmme AND COMPRESSING PULPY MATERIAL, PARTICULARLY FEAT Filed April 27, 1921 2 SheetsSheet 2 Fig.3,

Inventbr:

(EKAM Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL MAUS, 0F B RLIN-OHARLQTTEN RG, GERMANY.

DESICGATING AND COMPRESSING PULPY MATERIAL, PARTICULARLY PEAT.

Application filed April 27,1921. Serial No.,465,033.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL MAUS, of Knesebeck-strasse 6/7 Berlin-Charlottenburg, a citizen of the Republic of Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Desiccating and Compressing Pulpy Material, Particularly Peat (for which I have filed an application in Germany, May 31, 1919),

of which the following is a specification.

The present invention refers to improvements in and relating to the drying and pressing into shape of material containing a large percentage of water, in particular peat, and it consists in a process and a new and improved press, which allow the highest possible extraction of the moisture without previous and subsequent drying of the peat or the like, and which result in the production of presspieces, which are in suitable condition and form for immediate use as burning-material or for immediate transportation over great distances.

Whilst the ordinary wet peat contains from 85 to 90 per cent of water, according to the present invention approximately five sixths of the original moisture may be extracted therefrom; and further it is im portant, that by the present invention presspieces or blocks may be produced which have scarcely one-third the original volume of the wet peat, and which blocks, owing to their particular shape, can be easily divided into small pieces, which, compared with other pieces of ordinary machine-peat of equal volume, are about double the weight of the latter, and which, compared with other pieces of spade-peat of equal volume, are about four times the weightof the latter, as has been proved by actual trials, when wet peat from the same source has been used for comparative trials of these three difi'ercnt methods.

According to the worklng-process and in the press of the present invention those advantages are obtained by subjecting the wet or pulpy material, within suitably formed press-chambers, to a prolongated and gradually applied pressure, for instance by Press ing it for the time of 10 to 20 minutes by a pressure gradually rising up to 5 to 8 atmospheres. It is an important feature of my invention, that by a suitable construction of my press the water or other liquid is well drained out of the material to be dried, whilst even the finer particles of the mathe partitions.

terial itself are retained, and their capillarity is not destroyed, so as to facilitate a later perfect-air-drying of the drained and shaped press-pieces, if such additional air-drying should'be deemed desirable. In order to obtain such results, according to my invention the draining and shaping process is carried through in a. press or in a press-chamber having sieve-like acting walls, which sievelike action is obtained by providing a permeable lining at all parts of the press-chamber, of'the press-'piston and of special partitions, arranged within the press-chamber, between which parts the material is pressed. In order to carry thisprinciple into practice the permeable lining is formed by arranging upon each other several layers of wire-netting of different mesh and wire-thickness,

the netting of finest mesh and wire-thickness being arranged nearest to the substance to be pressed, and the coarsest mesh and wirethickness being arranged nearest to the walls of the press-chamber, the press-piston and In certain cases however the permeable lining of the press-cylinder or the side walls of the press-chamber are notformed by a Wire-netting but by a kind of grating'arranged in the direction of the stroke of the press-piston, whereby the preferably metallic bars of the grating consist of smooth profile-wires or channelled rods with the spaces between the wires increasing gradually towards the outside.

Another important feature of my invention consists, in the case of press-chambers having considerable length or height, in the arrangement of movable partitions within the chamber, so as to divide the material to be pressed into a number of parallel layers perpendicular to the stroke of the presspiston, whereby those partitions are provided likewise with a permeable lining made of wire-netting or grating, so'as to facilitate the draining-off of the water or other liquid. Furthermore, according to my invention the pressing walls of the piston, of the partitions, and of the bottom .of the press-chamber are preferably so shaped, as to produce press-pieces, the middle part of which is thinner than the outer part ofthem,'which form facilitates the draining-off 0f the water and the subsequent air-drying of the press-pieces, if, such air-drying should be regarded as desirable. Besides that, in a further development of my process and my press, projectionsare arranged on the pres.- sure surfaces of the movable partitions, of the press-piston, and on the press-chamber which projections, by indenting the presspiece, promote the draining-out of thewater and the subsequent air-drying. of the presscake; and which projections furthermore facilitate a later dividing of the large presscakes into smaller pieces of practically equal size and weight, such as are. mostconvenient for use area fuel. v

I shall now proceed to specifically describe the invention. in detail with reference to the drawings of some preferred embodiments for executing my improved drying and shaping process, in which drawings Fig. 1 showsdiagrammatically a vertical longitudinal section through a drying: and shaping press-chamber or press Fig. 2 shows a cross-section and agplanview of the movable parfitionwalls, which may be inserted into. the press-chamber or press;

Fig. 3 shows a-som'ewhat more deta led longitudinal vertical section through an 1mproved press-chamber or press, in: which the pressvpiston andthee movablev partltions are provided with the above mentioned. additional. projections;

Fig. 4 Sl1O'WS111 anenlarged scale a section through the permeable lining for the walls of the press-chamber'or press, which lining v is formed by several layers of wire-netting arranged upon each other;

Figs. 5 and 6 show likewise in. anenlarged scale a vertical and a horizontal. section through apart ofa. press-chamber or press,

in which. the permeable lining; for the walls is made up by a-verticalgratingof profilewires or channelled bar-s.

Now as to the details of'the drawings in Figure 1 ca is the wall and dthe bottom. of the press-chamber, into which. the presspiston; orplunger fmay be depressed. The

M inside of. the pressschamber a is. provided with thepermeable lining 0, which according to. Figure 1 isnotmadein one piece,.but consists of: a: numben of separate parts, or ring-sections ina cylindrical press-chamber, which; ring sections are of correspondingly small height and-v fit together, to form; the press-mould proper or inner liningof. the press-chamber. This considerably facilitate-s and simplifies the. fitting and the removal of the sieve-lining; as well as-the repair and the renewal of the individual parts. The press-chamber having considerable length or'height, it is further subdivided 'a. number of movable partitions I), which,

according to the Figure 2'1nay be formed-by a lens-shaped central core 6 provided at both surfaces with a number-of projecting ribs 6 between which ribs are left flatter parts 6 In consequence of the particular lens-shaped form of the partitions the peat or other pulpy. material 76 is pressed to the form of circular cakes the central part.of which is thinner than the outer part of it, the advantages of which form are already eX- plained above. lnpress chambers having a smaller diameter the subdividing. ribs on the partitions may be dispensed with, but in all cases I prefer to provide the movable partitions also with a permeable lining of wirenetting, as indicated. in Fig.2 1, and as it will be further detailed further down with reference to Figure 4.

In. the more. detailed drawings of' Figures 3: and 1. again. at is the outer wall of a cylin- (irical presschamber, which wall is perforated by a greater number of slightly in clined bores m, for the immediate draining out from the press-chamber of the water or liquid,.which is pressed out ofv the peat or other pulpy material 75. Inside of-this cylindrical wall a is provided the permeable lining h, whiclnaccording to Figure 4, is formed by three layers h hi 7L of wirenetting, having different degrees of' mesh. openings and wire-thickness, in such an arrangement, that the. layer nearest to the press-pieces 7c is av fine, smooth. net hi of about. 1 millimeter mesh-opening and wirethickness or less than that, whilst the following layers are of-larger mesh and! wirethickness andv the coarsest layer h is placed onthe side. of the outer wall aof the presschamber. In consequence of this arrangement the very close-meshed first sieve-layer it, will retain even the very fine particles of the peat, so as to form, together with the latter, a'sort of felt-filter, through which during the subsequent. pressing-operations the water can freely penetrate, whilst the peat-fibres are not allowed. to escape. The coarser. layers of netting on. theoutside of the lining. allowthe water to pass practically. without. hindrance, so that nowhere and at no moment will. the flow of'the drainedroif water be choked up.. The. peat or othermaterial 7:5 to be pressed is, in. the embodiment of the Figure 8 in the same way as-in the. previous example, subdivided by movable horizontal partitions, which are in scrted. into the: press+chamber at equal intervals, in order to insure a more-uniform and. thorough extraction of the moisture from. the press-cakes. Again those partitions consist of a lens-shaped. central core 72 of. some firm material,.which will. stand the pressure, for. instancewood, with anupper coatq and a. lower coatp of wire-netting, or better still, the partitions may consist of baskets of firm hoopor channelled iron.. At the lower sides: of the partitions and. of the press-piston. are provided projections 7*,- which likewise are covered with a coat of wire-netting, as described'above. (in the upper sides q. of. the partitions n are; placed special perforated or openwork trays g, into which the material to be pressed is filled, so that after pressing and shaping the material the trays g with the finished press-cakes may be lifted out of the press-. chamber and transported to the store-room, without diflicultyand without fear of breaka 'e. L

In the construction of a press-chamber, which is shown in the Figures 5 and 6, the outer wall 8 of the chamber is formed by a perforated sheet-metal, and the inner permeable lining t consists of a vertical grating. The bars of the grating are profilewires, which are arranged in such a way, that their broader sides are directed towards the inside of the press-chamber and touch each other or leave only a very small fissure of about one millimeter between'them, whilst the smaller sides of the grating-bars are fastenedto the hoops or rings 10, made out of iron-rods, which rings 10 at the same time keep the bars of the grating at the right distance from the outer wall 8. a

The working-process and the construction of the presses according to my invention is further improved by introducing a relative movement of the different parts'of'the. press with regard to each other, for instance by impartinga slowly revolving movement to the bottom ofthe press-chamber or the inner wall of a ring-shaped series of a plural ity of pressing-chambers adjoining each other. Such relative movement between will result in an opening of the capillaries of the peat, increasing thus the degree of the extraction of the water. Furthermore, another step in improving the working-process consists in heating the press or the pressehamber from without, as the heat causes a considerable swelling-up of the moisturefilled capillaries, in consequence of which the draining-oft of the water is greatly increased. I v

It is understood, that the new andimproved working-process of my invention may be carried through in presses of most various kinds and sizes; .but special advantages will be obtained by using cylindrical presses with tilting-cylinders, out of which the finished press-cakes can be ejected by some suitable discharging-device. The presses may be actuated by hydraulic, electric or any other suitable drive." In the case of submerged bog-peat, the peat-pressing-plant, suitably provided with several press-cylinders, which are alternatively cl'iarged, may be erected on a fiat-bottomed boat or tug together with all the auxiliary machines, such as charging apparatus for' the cylinders, grab slewing'crane for lifting the wet or pulpy peat out of the bog, reserve filling cylinders, storing bins for the raw peat, ejecting device for removing the finished press cakes and so on. In the case of fieldpeat' or 'surface-peat, a similarplant 'may be erected on a'portable platform on 2. In a device for desiccating and shapi'ng peat and'other pulpy material, means for compressing said material into cakes, means for subdividing the material, and means for submitting the central portion of the subdivided material to a relatively increased compressing pressure.

3, In a device for desiccating and shaping peat and other pulpy material, meansfor c-ompresslngsaid material into cakes, means j for increasing the compressing pressure towards the inside of said material, and

means for submitting the outer portions of the material to capillary action.

4. In a device forde'siccating and shaping peat and other pulp-y material, means, for superimposing separate layers of the ma terial, means to submit thesuperimposed layers to compressing and capillary action, and means for increasing thecompressing pressure on the inner portionsof the super- I pressure I v p on the outer portions thereof. r some parts of the press or the press-chamber imposed material relatively to the submitting the material to compressing and condensing pressure gradually increasing towards the center portion thereof, and means for submitting the less compressed and condensed portions to capillary action. 6. Ina device fordesiccating and shaping subdividing the'press cake during compression.

8. In a device for desiccating and shaping peat and other pulpy material, an enclosure comprisinga plurality of closely superimposed outwardly progressively larger meshed sieve-like surfaces, and means for submitting the material to an inwardly progressing condensing and compressing action within'said'enclosure. I

peat and otherpulpyvmateria-l means for compressing the material into cakes, means lll) 9; In afldeyice for .des'iccating and shaping peat and other pulpy material, an enclosure, comprlsing a plurality of closely superimposed outwardly progressively larger meshed sieve-like surfaces, a plurality of capillary, outwardly larger apertured, substantially parallelly spaced dividing means, transversely disposed in said enclosure, andmeans for submitting portions of the material to an inwardly progressing compressing and condensingaction between said dividing means.

10. In a device for desiccating and shaping peat; and other pulpy material, means forsubmitting said material to compressing condensing and capillary action, means for increasing the compressing condensing pressure towards the inside and central portion of the'material, and means "for subdividing the material during compression.

11. In adevice for desiecating and shaping peat and other pulpy material, means for submitting separate, superimposed portions of the, material to con'ipressing and capillary action, means for moving said portions, and means for increasing the compressing pressure towards the inside and central portions of the material.

12. In a device-for desiccating and shap ing peat and other pulpy material, means for submitting separate, superimposed portions of the material to compressing and capillary action, separating means for said portions, a pervious enclosure around said material, means for moving the portions of material relatively to each other and relatively to said enclosure, and. means for increasing the compressing pressure towards the inside and the central parts of the different portions of material.

13. In a device fordesiccating and shaping peat and other pulpy material, moving means for said material, and means for submitting it while in movement to capillary compressing action, and means forincreasing the-compressing action towards the inner, central portions of the material.

14. In a device for desiccatingandshap ing peat and other pulpy material, an enclosure, inwardly widening capillary means onsaid enclosure, a plurality of movable, substantially parallelly spaced dividing means transversely disposed in said enclosure and comprising each a plurality of closely superimposed outwardly progressively widening capillary means, means for moving and compressing portions of the material between said dividing means, means for increasing the compressing pressure 'towardsthe inner central parts of each por tion of material, and means on the'dividing means for indenting and subdividing the material during compression.

15. In a device for desicca'ting and shaping peat and other puipy material, a per vious capillary enclosure, and a plurality of outwardly convex, substantially parallelly disposed compressing means within said enclosure.

16. In 'acdevice for desiccating and shap ing peat and other pulpy material, a capillary enclosure, and a plurality of outwardly convex, substantially parallel'ly disposed compressing means in said enclosure, and projections on said compressing means.

17. Desiccating and compressing device forpulpy material, comprising the combination with an enclosure and feeding and eductingmeaus on said enclosure, of movable partitions in said enclosure, and compressing means operatively engageable with said movable partitions.

18. 'Desiccating and compressing device for pulpy'material, peat and the like, com prising the combination with an enclosure, and educting means on said enclosure, of partitions of partially increased height, axially movable in said enclosure, and porous lining on said partitions and on the inside of said enclosure, and compressing means, engageable with said partitions.

, 19L Desiccating and compressing 'device for pulpy material, comprising the combination with an enclosure and educting means on said enclosure, of a porous lining on the inside of said enclosure, loosely and substantially parallelly inserted substantially lenticular partitions axiallymovable in said enclosure, and compressing means engageable with said partitions I d 20. Desiccating and compressing device for pulpy material, peat and the like, comprising the combination with an enclosure and educting means on said enclosure, of a plurality of substantially lenticular loosely and parallelly inserted partitions in said enclosure, an outwardly progressively "larger apertured lining on said partitions, and an outwardly progressively larger apertured inside lining on said enclosure, and compressingmeans, engageable with said partitions.

21. Desiccating and compressing device for pulpy material, peat and the like, comprising: the combination with an enclosure and educting means on said enclosure, of a plurality of outwardly bulged loosely and substantially para-llelly inserted partitions onsaid enclosure, projeotionson one side of said partitions, an outwardly progressively larger apertured lining on said partitions,v and an outwardlyprogressively larger apertured inside lining on said enclosure, and

compressing means, engageable with said partitions.

22. 'Desiccating and compressingdevice for pulpy material, peat and the like, comprising the combination with an enclosure and educting means on said enclosure, of a plurality of inwardly convexly enlarged loosely and substantially parallelly-inserted partitions in said enclosure, rib shaped projections on one side of said partitions, and open trays on the other side of said partitions, an outwardly progressively larger apertured lining on said partitions and an outwardly progressively larger' apertured inside lining on said enclosure, and compressing means engageable with said partitions. 7

23. Desiocating and compressing device for pulpy material, peat and the like, comprising the combination with an enclosure and educting means on said enclosure, of a plurality of substantially lenticular, loosely and substantially parallelly inserted partitions in said enclosure, a porous inside lining on said enclosure, comprising a plurality of closely superimposed outwardly progressively larger meshed layers of wire gauze in contact with said partitions, open work portions on said partitions, and compressing means engageable with said partitions.

24. Desiccating and compressing device "for pulpy material, peat and the like, comprising the combination with an enclosure, of downwardly sloping educting ports in said enclosure, aporous inside lining on said enclosure, comprising a plurality of closely superimposed outwardly progressively larger meshed layers of wire cloth, a plurality of substantially lenticular loosely inserted partitions in said enclosure in contact with said lining, open work portions on said partitions and compressing means engageable with said partitions.

25. Desiccating and compressing device for pulpy material, peat and the like, comprising in combination, a receptacle, educting means in the walls of said receptacle, a revolving bottom on said receptacle, a sieve like outwardly larger apertured inner lining on said receptacle, a plurality of partially outwardly bulged partitions, loosely inserted in said receptacle, projections on said partitions and compressing means engageable with said partitions.

In testimony whereof Iatfix my signature.

KARL MAUS}. 

